The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), to be held from October 28 through November 6, announced that it will introduce the new "Women’s Empowerment" section at its upcoming 37th edition. In 2021, TIFF became the first Asian film festival to sign with Collectif 50/50, an international organization promoting gender equality in the film industry, and the festival’s new Women’s Empowerment section will take TIFF a further step forward on gender issues. "Women’s Empowerment," co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, will highlight films directed by female filmmakers and/or on female-focused films. With this section, TIFF aims to celebrate women’s achievements and hopes it will further expand the horizons of future cinema.
With the new section, TIFF now consists of ten main sections, including the International Competition section, the Asian Future section for emerging Asian directors with up to three feature films, and the Gala Selection, which premieres notable works from Japan and abroad ahead of their Japanese release. Andrijana Cvetkovikj, the first Macedonian ambassador to Japan and former jury member of Amazon Prime Video Take One Award at the 34th TIFF in 2021, will serve as the Women’s Empowerment senior programmer, selecting seven new films to be showcased as the main feature. In addition, a symposium and special screening with talk session focusing on related themes will be held. The films are currently being selected and will be announced at a press conference in late September.
Andrijana Cvetkovikj, Senior Programmer, commented: “For years, screen representation has been limited by a predominantly male perspective, missing a fuller range of experiences. However, with advancements in digital technology, filmmaking has become more accessible, leading to a surge in female directors, writers, and protagonists. This year’s TIFF program highlights these emerging voices, celebrating their diverse stories and contributions to cinema.”
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